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Closer by Committee in Chicago?

The phrase was laughed at when Boston general manager Theo Epstein talked about featuring a ``bullpen by committee'' when he took over in 2003.

The concept didn't seem to work for the Red Sox that year, but that concept seems to have found a disciple in Chicago general manager Kenny Williams. The White Sox have used Neal Cotts, Damaso Marte, Cliff Politte, Luis Vizcaino, Dustin Hermanson and Bobby Jenks out of their bullpen in various roles.

``I've always believed in closer by situation. Some people might call it closer by committee,'' said Williams. ``What happens if David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez come up in the eighth inning in a tight situation. I don't think you save your guy (traditional closer) for a matchip in the ninth when that's the situation that comes up in the eighth.''

Posted by   at 2:48 PM | Permalink